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Finding the right electric razor should be easy and straightforward.
After all, getting a good and comfortable shave, preferably without spending a ton of money, sounds like a very reasonable expectation when you want to start your search.
In this article, I look at the 7 best Electric Shavers razors.
Once you start and look at which one you want to buy, it quickly turns out to be very different. Selecting a good electric shaver seems anything but easy.
This guide aims to change all that by looking at the different needs you can have in your shaver and I’ve reviewed the best choice for that.
My favorite is this 9-series Braun 9290cc because it lasts a long time and is easy to clean right in the docking station. You pay a little more, but I haven’t seen a device that allows me to shave as quickly without hassle.
By the time you’re done reading this post, you’ll have a better understanding of what makes a particular Electric Shavers suitable in a particular situation, so you can ultimately decide which Electric Shavers razor is best for you.
What are the best electric razors?
What are some of this year’s best electric Electric Shavers?
Best Buy Shaver For Sensitive Skin Braun Series 9 9290cc
Advantages
All-round good Electric Shavers for those who don’t mind spending a little more and have sensitive skin.
- Very comfortable
- close shave
- Great for longer, wiry, flat-lying hair
- Suitable for very sensitive skin, ingrown hairs
- Excellent cleaning station
- Fast and powerful, suitable for coarse beard
Cons
- Not quite the closest shaver in this price range
- Pricey
- Overkill for light beards and/or non-daily use
- Manual cleaning can be difficult
Arguably one of the most popular and highly anticipated Electric Shavers razors of recent years, the Series 9 has been the subject of many heated discussions in the online community.
Launched in 2015 to take over from the Series 7 as Braun’s new top line, the Series 9 had a few hiccups along the way: a shortage of replacement heads and some reports of the blades falling apart after just a few months of use.
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In addition, if you somehow managed to find the replacement parts, the price was prohibitive.
Braun eventually solved the problems by equipping the Series 9 with new shaving heads ( read the press release here ).
Be careful which one you buy as the updated models start with 92: 9290cc, 9295cc, 9296cc, 9293s etc and they are all suitable for wet and dry use.
The cost of the replacement electric shaving heads called cassettes has also come down with significantly & is correctly reasonably priced at the same time of writing this article. For these reasons, the best Electric Shavers 9 is finally a good option and the best buy in this reviews.
I was very hesitant to recommend the Series 9 anyway and have often recommended the tried and tested Series 7 instead, also a good choice by the way.
However, with every potential issue addressed, we can finally focus on Series 9’s actual performance.
After thoroughly testing the 9290cc of the updated Series 9 generation, I can say with confidence that it is a great shaver. But as expected, it’s not the best for every situation and I’ll get to that later.But I will discuss the good points first and when it can be a good choice for you.
When is The Braun 9 Series a Good Option For You
The Braun Series 9 9290cc is one of the best electric razors you can buy right now and the best thing about the 9290cc (and about the Series 9 in general) is the comfort.
I’ve used dozens of electric razors and this one is by far the most comfortable, forgiving, and gentle shaver you can buy right now.
Also watch this Youtube video from Groomreviews about the Braun:
When using the Series 9, I can even get away with things that would normally cause an unsightly spot and serious discomfort (like pressing too hard or doing extra passes over already sensitive areas).
If you have sensitive skin, shaving sensitivity, rashes or ingrown hairs, the Series 9 may be the best electric shaver you can buy right now. The foils never get hot, even after prolonged use and remain perfectly comfortable.
The Braun Series 9 Shaving Head With Its 4 Individual Blades
The shaving head consists of 4 separate cutting elements: two outer finishing foils and two cutters specially designed to tackle longer, flat-lying hairs that grow in different directions.
Braun’s implementation of these specialized blades on the Series 9 works better than anything used on any other foil shaver. They manage to capture and cut stray, wiry and flat-lying hair impressively.
Most other electric razors, especially the foil heads, only manage to shave up to a hair length of no more than 3mm and tend to miss hairs, which require multiple strokes to get a clean shave, which can lead to discomfort.
Less suitable foil shavers also tug and pull on the hairs if they are too long. I haven’t experienced that with the Series 9, even though I was deliberately trying to be sloppy with my technique.
If you shave less often, such as every two to three days or even more, and problem areas where the hairs grow parallel to the skin and have different thicknesses, the Series 9 will again be a very suitable option.
The Series 9 has a lot of cutting power and is more than suitable for dense, coarse beards.
Now let’s talk about the smoothness after shaving.
While it was absolutely adequate for me, it wasn’t the best I’ve ever gotten from an Electric Shavers razor. A Panasonic Arc 5 or even an Arc 4 will probably give you a slightly better shave, even if they aren’t as comfortable as the Series 9.
So if you’re particularly interested in getting the best possible shave and your skin isn’t overly sensitive, the above-mentioned Panasonic models are probably the best you can get.
Otherwise, the Series 9 is an excellent compromise of comfort and smoothness, but again, it’s not the smoothest electric shaver you can get.
Another potential issue with the Series 9 is the price. While it’s dropped significantly since launch, the Series 9 is still a pretty expensive razor.
The replacement heads, called cassettes (part number 92s/92b), are also pricey but comparable to the competition’s other high-end electric shavers. And you won’t have to replace them much because of their excellent durability.
Braun’s cleaning refills are slightly more expensive than Panasonic or Philips Norelco’s, but you can find cheaper third-party alternatives that work just as well.
Braun Series 9 9290cc In The Cleaning & Charging Station
And you’ll probably want to consider the Series 9 because it’s a version that comes with a cleaning station. That saves a lot of hassle and maintenance (I always let it go a bit down, I must admit).
As I mentioned in my review of the 9290cc, a manual cleaning is tricky because you can’t really remove all the hair and grime.
This is due to the design of the shaving head, which combines the foils and blades into a single piece that provides limited access for a thorough clean.
Over time, this can lead to dirt, dead skin and hair build-up in the shaving head. The very intricate inner part of the Braun Series 9 shaving head makes it difficult to clean manually.
Fortunately, the cleaning station will take care of everything for you. You don’t have to use it after every shave. For me, once a week is more than enough and I just clean the shaver with liquid soap and warm tap water the other times.
This ensures excellent shaver hygiene and you don’t have to replace the cleaning cartridge as often (here are more tips to make the refill last longer).
As with all Braun shavers, the models ending in cc (such as the 9290cc) include a cleaning base, while the models ending in s (such as the 9293s) do not.
Keep in mind that an s (standing for Solo, not for Small like many phones) model won’t work with a cleaning station, despite looking the same as the cc variants and even the two metal studs on the back that charge the Electric Shavers when it is placed in the station.
The s models lack a special chip needed to communicate with the station, so the only option would be to invest a little more in a cc series 9 if you plan on ever using an automatic cleaning station, and it works great for when, like me, you often forget maintenance.
I’ve heard that a Solo Series 9 could theoretically work with a cleaning station after a firmware update, but it can only be run by Braun at their service centers and I don’t know if they’re willing to do it or how much it would cost.
Normally I don’t usually recommend cleaning stations when they’re not needed, but in the case of the Series 9, I think they really add to the experience and they’re really helpful. Besides, the price difference between an s and a cc model is not that high.
And in that regard, given the purchase price and the cost of the cassettes, the Series 9 doesn’t really offer the best value for money. It’s just the best buy if you
- have more to spend
- have sensitive skin
- or have thick beard hairs
Best Electric Shaver for Wet and Dry Panasonic ES-LV65-S Arc 5
Advantages
Wet & Dry series for both wet shaving with shaving foam and dry shaving, possibly in the shower.
- Extreme close shave
- Sufficiently comfortable for sensitive skin
- Very fast and powerful, suitable for coarse facial hair
- High quality, sharp blades
- Excellent wet shaving performance
- Very easy to clean manually
- Great value for money
Cons
- Not as comfortable as a Series 9 or 7
- Replacement films and sheets are pricey
- Overkill for light beards and/or everyday wear
- Large shaving head will take some getting used to and difficult for precision work if you also want to keep some beard
- Not as good as a Series 9 or 7 for flat, wiry hairs
Panasonic is Braun’s only real competitor in the foil shaver segment.Although Panasonic never managed to achieve the same popularity as Braun in the US, the quality and performance of their razors are excellent and they are gaining popularity here in United State.
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The Arc 5 line represents Panasonic’s vision of what should be the ultimate electric shaver: 5 separate cutting elements, the industry’s fastest linear-driven motor and extremely sharp blades.
Remember what I said earlier about the sheer number of options and the lack of proper documentation on the differences between each of them?
Well, there are 3 different generations of Arc 5 razors (+ three relatively minor revisions of the third), all still available for purchase.
However, the purpose of this post was to make it easy for you to find the right shaver. And that also means getting rid of the clutter created by the excessive number of model names that don’t make sense.
As a result, I’ll only cover one option: the second-generation Panasonic ES-LV65-S. The best in my opinion.
This shaver currently represents the best Arc 5 variation in terms of cost and performance. Panasonic ES-LV65-S is one of the best electric razors to buy for a close shave.
While the Series 9 (and Braun shavers in general) excel in comfort, Panasonic Electric Shavers is the best when it comes to smoothness. And that does not only apply to this model, but that is generally the big difference between the Panasonic and Braun models from the same price ranges.
This inevitably comes with a small trade-off in comfort for Panasonic. So it’s really about preference here.
Panasonic manages to deliver this outstanding performance by using ultra-thin foils manufactured with great precision and sharp, high-quality blades that have an aggressive 30-degree bevel for effective cutting.
The motor that powers the ES-LV65-S is a 14,000 CPM unit, the fastest to my knowledge. By comparison, the Series 9 has a 10,000 CPM engine. Speed isn’t everything, of course, but this difference is hard to ignore.
The result of all these features is one of the fastest and smoothest shavers you can get. As expected, shaving a very coarse beard is no problem at all.
Combine Wet & Dry Shaving
As it is a wet/dry model you can use it with your favorite shaving cream and further improve the closeness and comfort of the shave. And for me, this setup works best in combination with foam.
Since Panasonic razors are not as comfortable as Braun’s, adding a quality shaving cream will improve comfort and this way you can still get that close shave without major compromises in comfort.
And you can also use it dry when you’re on the road, for example, and don’t want to take it all with you, have less time or just love it more and don’t have such a sensitive skin.
The price of this Panasonic
Regarding the cost associated with the ES-LV65-S, it actually does quite well for a high-end shaver. The purchase price is very reasonable considering the performance and a lot cheaper than a series 9.
The foils and blades are a bit pricey (part number WES9032P), but comparable to other premium replacement parts such as the 92s/92b required for the Series 9.
When is The Panasonic Arc 5 Not Suitable?
Now let’s see when you shouldn’t buy the ES-LV65-S, and which other razors would be better.
If you have very sensitive skin or suffer from ingrown hairs, opt for a Braun Series 9 or 7 – depending on your budget.
The ES-LV65-S can be a bit aggressive in such a situation, even if it doesn’t get hot like some Arc 4 or Arc 3 models do. Again, if you don’t have very sensitive skin, you’re probably fine using an Arc 5 and can count on very smooth skin.
Another scenario that can cause some problems is when shaving longer hairs, especially if they grow parallel to the skin and/or in different directions.
Taking a closer look at the ES-LV65-S’s shaving head, we can clearly see that Panasonic emphasized proximity rather than improved flat-lying hair capture capabilities, despite using a specially designed split film.
A Braun Series 9 simply works better in this case. If you’re still sold on buying this Panasonic, one solution could be to shave more often. The problem of wiry, flat-lying hairs is less serious if you shave daily or every other day, for example.
And finally, if you have a light beard or are just getting started with electric razors, an ES-LV65-S with a whopping 5 blades and a huge shaving head is probably too much.
Best Electric Shaver with Clippers Braun Series 7 790cc
Advantages
Automatic cleaning in the charging station and integrated clipper.
- very comfortable
- Suitable for very sensitive skin
- Adequate smoothness
- Reasonably priced compared to a Series 9
- Works surprisingly well with longer, flat-lying hairs
- Suitable for coarse beards
- Convenient and effective cleaning station
Cons
- Not the smoothest electric shavers in this price range
- A Series 5 is cheaper in price and comparable in performance
- Poorly implemented main locking mechanism
- Manual cleaning can be tricky
Braun’s Series 7 is probably the best-selling electric shaver in recent years. It was first introduced in 2010 and quickly gained iconic status.
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And there are definitely a lot of good things about the Series 7, but also some shortcomings. First of all, let’s discuss the most common question regarding Series 7: which one should I buy?
To answer that, it’s important to get a few things straight. Since its launch, Series 7 has received several updates. They mostly consisted of minor cosmetic changes and the introduction of certain gimmick features, such as 5 personalization modes instead of 3.
As a result, the outcome is quite easy to guess: the actual shaving performance is not significantly improved.
Therefore, choosing a Series 7 comes down to three things:
- Whether you need a cleaning station or not
- Whether you need a shaver that also includes clippers
- Price
As with Series 9, my pick would be a Series 7 that comes with an automatic cleaning station. The reasoning is the same. Over time, a manual cleaning will not suffice.
Plus, the original drive that came with the Series 7 790cc (and other older variants) is in my opinion the best Braun has ever made. It is the only one that uses induction heating instead of a fan for drying the razor.
As a result, the drying phase of the cleaning cycle is extremely short compared to other cleaning stations. Another added benefit of induction heating is the complete absence of any noise as there is no fan running.
Who is The Braun 7 Series For?
The best thing about this line of razors is comfort again. Until the launch of the Series 9, the Series 7 was the best shaver in terms of comfort.
This quality makes it a perfectly adequate option for men with sensitive skin who don’t feel like paying a premium price for a Series 9.
The difference in smoothness is negligible in my experience. However, the Series 9 is better to use, slightly more refined, and will get you a faster shave. And the integrated clippers are one of the best I’ve seen.
The differences will be even less noticeable if you shave more often. As I mentioned earlier, one of Series 9’s strengths is shaving longer, flat-lying hairs.
An advantage of the Series 7 over the 9 is its compact shaving head. As it comes with 3 cutters instead of 4 it feels very agile and is very easy to maneuver in tricky areas.
If you’re not really into getting the best shave and just want a shaver that’s a great all-rounder and very gentle on the skin, the Series 7 is a great candidate.
In my experience, it works best when used on shorter facial hair, but you can also get excellent results on a two or three-day beard.
It works surprisingly well for a foil shaver and seems very efficient at capturing those pesky flat-lying hairs.
The Series 7 has no problem with thick beards, but an Arc 5 or a Series 9 shaves a little faster and with fewer strokes.
The price of the Series 7 varies quite a bit, so be sure to do some research beforehand, but the 790CC is an excellent buy.
The replacement heads (Part No. 70s/70b) are widely available and the cost is reasonable, especially when compared to a Series 9 or Arc 4 shaving head.
When Is The 7 Series Not Suitable?
Now Series 7 has two major problems in my opinion.
The first is that a Panasonic ES-LV65-S or even an Arc 4 like the ES-LA63-S will give you a closer shave, faster and also cost less (sometimes a lot less) provided your facial hair is fairly short.
Admittedly, they’re not that comfortable, but if you don’t have very sensitive skin, you probably won’t have a problem using them. This is something to keep in mind if smoothness is what you are looking for.
The second big problem with the Series 7 is actually Braun’s own Series 5. As I mentioned in my detailed comparison of the two, the Series 5 costs less and shaves pretty much the same, although some models lack the clippers or aren’t nearly as good to use, so that’s something to consider.
In addition, the replacement heads are cheaper and the Series 5 also contains some of the potential problems of the Series 7, such as the head locking mechanism which was prone to breakage.
So what do these all mean? Should you stay away from the Series 7?
Definitely not, especially if you can get a lot out of it. Depending on your priorities (comfort or smoothness) and budget, the razors mentioned above may be a better option.
Best for Carry On Electric Shavers Panasonic ES-LF51
Advantages
All in one and easy to carry, works well enough both dry in front of the mirror and wet in the shower if that works out better when traveling.
- Very close shave
- Slim shaving head for a shaver with 4 blades
- Very fast and powerful, ideal for coarse facial hair
- High quality, sharp blades
- Excellent wet shaving performance
- Very easy to clean manually
- Value for your money
Cons
- Not as comfortable as a Series 5 or 7
- Replacement films and sheets are pricey
- Overkill for light beards
- Not the best for longer, wiry, flat-lying hair
While the Panasonic ES-LA63-S is a really good shaver, the bulky shaving head can bean issue for some users, especially if someone is getting an electric shaver for the first time.
But as of 2019, other models in the Arc 4 lineup have started to follow this trend and they now also represent viable, cost-effective alternatives.
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One of those razors is the Panasonic ES-LF51-A and I think in some cases it could even be better than the best-selling ES-LA63-S, especially if you go for more precision.
The Panasonic ES-LF51-S is one of the best options for someone looking for a razor that is affordable and precise.
It’s still a 4-blade foil shaver with a very similar setup (they even use the exact same inner blades), it’s equipped with the same powerful 14,000 CPM motor, and the overall performance is nearly identical.
As for the differences, the ES-LF51-A lacks the vibrator motor and the shaver head can be pressed in instead of the up-and-down ES-LA63-S.
However, the shaving performance is excellent, especially the closeness to the shave.
In fact, I’d say the ES-LF51-A is slightly better.
The shaving head may not look very impressive in photos, but it is much more manageable during use.
Most users will appreciate the ES-LF51-A’s more compact and agile shaving head, especially when shaving under the nose for example.
I think this is one of the reasons why I tend to get a slightly better shave with the ES-LF51-A, it allows me to control the shaver with greater precision.
It also subjectively seems faster despite using an identical motor as it lacks the vibrating function, the sound it emits is very clean and clear, while the ES-LA63-S sounds slimmer.
The ES-LF51-A is definitely powerful enough for dense facial hair and you’ll appreciate it if you want a very close shave.
Cleaning this shaver manually is a breeze. It doesn’t need anything fancy, just some warm tap water and liquid soap.
The sonic cleaning mode (present on almost all Panasonic shavers) also helps and you can literally get it perfectly clean in less than 30 seconds.
Easy to clean, quite light and all-in-1 solution make it a great travel shaver.
Can You Take a Shaver In Your Hand Luggage?
You can take a shaver with you in your hand luggage. Many people have doubts because it contains blades, but because these are completely in a closed shaving head, you can’t injure anyone with it and he can just go on the plane.
Who is The ES-LF51 Not Suitable For?
As for the drawbacks of the ES-LF51-A, they are pretty much the same that plague any other Arc 4 shaver.
It’s not the most comfortable electric razor out there, at least not during a dry shave. For sensitive skin, it may come across as too harsh.
The foils also tend to get quite hot during use, even more than those on the ES-LA63-S.
Adding a shaving cream makes the ES-LF51-A much more forgiving and gentle, but I know most men prefer a quick dry shave. However, if you’re not totally against using shaving cream with electric razors, the ES-LF51-A will do a great job.
If you don’t use the ES-LF51-A on short stubble but on a beard for a few days, you’ll be much happier with a Braun Series 5 or 7.
In short, if you like to shave often, you don’t have very sensitive skin and you will usually shave a short beard, I highly recommend checking out the Panasonic ES-LF51-A.
Best Waterproof Shaver Braun Series 5 5090cc
Advantages
- 100% waterproof for easy rinsing and active lift for a close shave.
- very comfortable
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Comparable to a Series 7 in performance
- Very good value for money
- Excellent design and build quality
- Suitable for coarse beards
Cons
- Doesn’t shave as close as a Panasonic Arc
- Noise during use
- Not as refined and enjoyable as a Series 7
- Manual cleaning can be tricky
Just as the Panasonic Arc 4 is a more budget-friendly Arc 5, the Series 5 is a more cost-effective alternative to Braun Series 7 models. The current generation of the
Series 5 – with razors such as the 5090cc / 5190cc retains many design cues from the high-end Series 9.
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The two razors are very similar in terms of proportions, construction and weight.
However, the Series 5 with its mainly black color scheme is more understated and strict from an aesthetic point of view, I think it is one of the nicer razors out there.
The long hair trimmer and head locking mechanism of the Series 5 are again the same as those of the Series 9. This also means that there will be no potential problems with the locking mechanism breaking (a known issue with the Series 7).
A quick look at the actual shaving head of the Series 5 reveals a striking resemblance to another Braun shaver, the Series 7.
The Series 5 uses an identical setup, with three individual cutting elements: two finishing foils and a middle trimmer that captures longer hairs.
It’s therefore no big surprise that in terms of performance, the Series 5 and 7 are almost identical.
While it’s not as obvious when shot side-by-side, the Series 7’s shaving head is a bit more compact as the frame around the cassette isn’t quite as wide. As a result, the Series 7 feels a little more agile during use.
The Series 7 is more refined, slightly more comfortable and also slightly faster to use. The Series 5 vibrates a lot when cutting the hair and produces more noise.
But the end result, both in terms of smoothness and comfort, is very similar.
So if you feel the Series 7 is a good match for your needs, but the price was more than what you were willing to pay, the Series 5 is a perfectly good alternative.
In my opinion the 5090cc seems like the best option at the moment as it costs less than other Series 5 models and as the cc in its name suggests it comes with an automatic cleaning station.
As for the station, I should mention that there is no system to actively dry the shaver after the cleaning phase has been completed.
As we saw earlier, with some of the Series 7 we get induction heating and the Series 9 stations are equipped with a fan that blows the shaving head dry.
To keep the price down, the cleaning stations that came with the Series 5 have none of these. Instead, the alcohol-based liquid will evaporate on its own within hours.
In my opinion, this isn’t a big deal, as you probably won’t need to use the razor for several hours after shaving.
Other than that, the 5090cc / 5190cc station does the same excellent job of cleaning and lubricating the shaver.
Because the Series 5’s shaving performance is comparable to that of the Series 7, it’s one of the best choices for men with sensitive skin who are primarily interested in shaving comfort rather than getting a very close shave and still a little on the cutting edge. want to pay attention.
Personally I find the smoothness of the Series 5 and 7 good enough, but again something like a Panasonic Arc 4 will give a better shave in most cases.
The Series 5 appears to be equipped with a similar motor to the Series 7, so it has plenty of power to shave a coarse beard.
It works great when used on shorter facial hair, so if you shave daily or every other day, you should get excellent results.
I managed to get a really good shave even when using it on a two or three day beard, so in my opinion the Series 5 works a lot better in these situations than any other Panasonic priced at the same level.
The 5090cc is suitable for dry and wet use, but to be honest, a shaving cream or gel doesn’t do much for the Series 5 or 7 in terms of improving results.
Braun shavers are generally very comfortable on a dry shave and the closeness will not be significantly improved by adding a shaving cream or gel.
In short, the Series 5 is a more affordable Series 7 that really lives up to expectations.
This waterproof Braun 5090cc is for sale here at bol.com
Best for the Shower Braun Series 3 3040s ProSkin
Advantages
Perfect for the shower (completely waterproof up to 5 meters deep) with ProSkin shaving comfort.
- very comfortable
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Affordable replacement shaving heads
- Very good value for money
- Wet and dry use, excellent in the shower
- Excellent for beginners
- Better than an Arc for longer, flat-lying hair
Cons
- Doesn’t shave as close as a Panasonic Arc
- A little underpowered for very coarse facial hair
- Works best when used on shorter facial hair
- Not so easy to clean compared to an ArcThe Series 3 is Braun’s entry-level family of electric razors and a direct competitor to Panasonic’s Arc 3 razors.The highlights of the Series 3 shavers are the affordable price and the comfort while shaving.
Both the shavers and the replacement heads (called cassettes, part number 32B / 32S) usually cost less than the corresponding Arc 3 parts from Panasonic.
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The shaving head of the 3040s, with the typical 3-blade arrangement (2 finishing foils and one center split foil). While the smoothness isn’t as good, the Series 3 is more comfortable and gentle on the skin compared to an Arc 3.
There are several Series 3 models ranging from dry only models with a cleaning station like the 3050cc to wet/dry models like the 3040s.
The Braun Series 3 3040s and 3050cc are among the best entry-level electric razors.
I prefer the 3040s because it costs much less, is great for the shower and the shaving head is easier to clean by hand compared to the Series 5, 7 or 9, so the station isn’t a must-have here.
Other cheaper Series 3 models (e.g. 3010s) lack certain features such as long hair clippers so I wouldn’t consider that as I find the clippers to be very useful even though the Series 3’s aren’t the best that are there.
Whichever Series 3 you choose, the shaving performance will be the same, so it’s best to select the one that has the features you need, but this 3040s is the best for the shower.
As with most electric shavers, the Series 3 dry models can also be operated when connected to mains power, while the wet/dry ones cannot be used due to safety concerns.
The 3040s and all Series 3 razors work best when used daily or every other day. Longer hairs will cause problems for most standard foil shavers, including the Series 3. However, it is noticeably better than the Arc 3 in this situation.
Because it is very comfortable, with the foils that stay cool while shaving, the Series 3 is a suitable option for users with sensitive skin.
If you’re mainly interested in a very close shave, a Panasonic Arc 3 will perform better in most cases.
Ultimately, if you have very coarse facial hair, the Series 3 will eventually get the job done, but you’d be better off opting for a more powerful shaver like the Series 5 or a Panasonic Arc 4.
Best 3 head shaver Philips Shaver S9000 Prestige
I’ve read countless comparisons of rotary and foil shavers and one aspect that constantly comes up is that rotary shavers are better for coarse hair.
This Philips Shaver is, therefore, an excellent choice for people with a coarse beard.
Advantages
- Top performance
- Very comfortable and close shaves
- Great performance on longer facial hair
- Brushed aluminum body
- Premium build quality
- Very useful display
- Wet & dry use
- Premium travel pouch
Cons
- Duration
- No cleaning station
- No cleaning brush or protective cap
- A thorough cleaning is difficult and time-consuming
The Series 9000 Prestige represents Philips Norelco’s latest addition to their high-end range of electric shavers. Launched at IFA in August 2018, the Prestige models complement existing Series 9000 shavers such as the 9300 and 9700.
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With a new design and new shaving heads, however, the S9000 Prestige is a completely new shaver and not just a cosmetic makeover of the existing Series 9000 shavers.
Philips is so confident in the performance of their new flagship that they call it their best shaver yet and also make some very bold claims, such as the ability to shave a 7-day beard.
Features Overview
The new Philips Series 9000 Prestige shavers come in several variants, some of the model names are region-specific.
The shavers themselves are identical and the only differences between the models are related to the included accessories. In terms of shaving performance, all shavers are absolutely identical. The S9000 Prestige models that come with the wireless charging technology (SP9860, SP9863, SP9862) do not have a charging port and therefore can only be charged wirelessly via the pad.
Now let’s briefly review the highlights of the Series 9000 Prestige razors. I’ll skip the marketing fluff and only mention the really important features.
New Metal Housing
While the previous Series 9000 models had a very good build quality, the S9000 Prestige has a brushed aluminum finish that looks and feels exquisite (more details later).
New Shaving Heads
The Series 9000 Prestige does not use SH90 shaving heads from the models 9300/9700 or 8900. Instead, it comes with brand new blades called SH98. In my opinion, this is the change that had the biggest impact on the performance of this shaver.
It’s also worth noting that the rings around the three clippers now have an anti-friction coating that allows the head to slide easily over the skin.
Three Personalization Settings
You can choose between three personalization modes (Slow, Medium, Fast) via the Plus and Minus buttons. This basically changes the power of the motor depending on your needs.
For example, you can shave an area with very coarse hair or a sensitive area such as your neck. In my experience, this implementation doesn’t really work as it should, but if you have really sensitive areas it can be a nice addition.
- Other notable features include:
- travel lock
- SmartClick precision trimmer
- Facial cleansing brush (SP9820 / 88 and SP9863 / 14 models only)
- Premium travel case
- 5 minutes fast charging function
- LED screen
Foil or Rotary Shavers
Now let’s look at the main advantages of foil shavers.
In most cases, this would be it
- Comfort and
- the smoothness of shaving being
Those are pretty important aspects.
The very thin foil shields provide a closer shave and because the inner blades oscillate at a much higher speed compared to a rotary shaver, there are fewer chances of pinching or pulling the hairs, usually resulting in a closer, softer shave.
There are, of course, foil razors that are just bad, but in the case of equally-priced, decent razors, a foil razor will usually give you a better and more comfortable shave.
Foil razors are also easier to use and clean in my opinion. The shaving unit of most foil razors consists of 3 to 5 shaving elements.
These are narrow, straight foils or trimmers that allow for greater precision and control, especially above the upper lip or around your sideburns.
Even the Arc 5 with its hulking shaving head takes less effort to shave those areas. The use of short, straight strokes against the grain also makes foil shearers suitable for beginners.
Finally, foil shavers give you a lot more options (Braun, Panasonic, Remington, Wahl), while you’re basically stuck with Philips if you want a decent rotary shaver.
Remington also has a few rotary models, but I’ve tried several and I really can’t recommend them.
The Cons of Rotary Shavers
Since the main advantages of foil razors are closeness and comfort of the shave, we can easily guess the main disadvantages of rotary razors.
Because of the way they work, rotary shavers generally can’t work as close to the skin or as comfortably as foil shavers.
The rotary devices sit behind metal combs which are quite thick compared to the perforated metal screens on foil razors.
This creates a thicker physical barrier between the blades and the skin. Philips tried to compensate for this by using a double blade design for most of their razors.
In theory, the first blade would lift the hair and the second would actually cut it. In reality, this doesn’t seem to work very well, even with high-end razors.
Entry-level foil razors like the Panasonic Arc 3 or the Braun Series 3 usually get a closer shave than most rotary shavers (provided your beard is fairly short).
Philips has deactivated the lifting and cutting technology and uses only one blade design.
The result is a huge improvement in comfort, but the price of the Prestige models is very high and in my opinion a Braun Series 7 for example is even more comfortable, it costs only a part of the price, it shaves closer and also comes with a cleaning station.
Still, the S9000 Prestige is a good option and the best 3-head rotary shaver.
The comfort of rotary shavers can be improved with a few tweaks (pre-shave lotion, shaving cream, proper technique), but still not to the extent that it’s a better option for someone with sensitive skin.
The Disadvantages of Foil Shavers
On the other hand, foil razors don’t do very well on long hair (usually this means a beard of 3 days or more). As mentioned, you can get around this by shaving more often or by getting a more suitable razor.
Another problem is the heat generated during use. Since the blades oscillate very quickly and even rub against the foils, some of them can get quite hot.
Braun shavers are very good in this regard, most of the time they stay very comfortable and cool to the touch. Panasonic and Remington razors tend to run much hotter.
Lubrication can help with this, where you can use a light oil or a special cleaning spray.
Finally, foil razors vibrate more and are generally much louder.
This can be a real problem in a variety of situations (for example, I get a lot of emails from parents of teens with autism who need a very quiet electric shaver and have a young baby of my own).
There’s not much you can do except get a rotary shaver, that’s just the best option in that case.
When Do You Choose a Rotary Shaver Over Foil?
I think we can conclude that foil razors generally have less serious drawbacks and most of them can be kept to a minimum.
But again, your choice of rotary or foil shaver should depend on your personal needs and what would work best for you, so we can’t say foil shavers are better than rotary.
If I were to sum up this rotary versus foil dilemma, it would be something like this.
Buy a rotary shaver if you:
- Shave less often (every 3 days or more)
- Your budget is more limited. A cheap rotary razor will probably outperform a cheap foil razor in this case
- You don’t have sensitive skin
- Need a really quiet electric shavers
Buy a foil shaver if you:
- Want the best chance of getting a good and comfortable shave
- You shave more often. Most entry-level foil shavers don’t perform as well on longer, flat-lying hairs, if shaving more often isn’t an option it’s worth spending more on a Braun Series 7 or 9
- Have sensitive skin
- Never used an electric razor before. I think foil razors are easier to use, clean and care for, making the transition from razors a lot smoother
How Do You Get The Most Out Of Your Electric Shaver?
Now that you’ve hopefully found a razor that seems right for your needs, it’s time to put it to good use.
While this isn’t a comprehensive guide to walk you through, I’ll try to outline the key aspects of using electric shavers to get the best results possible.
This often comes down to making small adjustments to your shaving routine to make up for certain shortcomings of the shaver.
As we have seen, almost every electric razor has its pros and cons and we just have to choose to meet most of our needs.
Here’s how to use your shaver properly:
- Get the basics right.
- Aside from choosing the right appliance, these are likely to have the biggest impact on the quality of your shave.
- Always shave dry before washing your face or taking a shower.
- Stretch your skin with your free hand and always shave against the grain.
- Do not apply excessive pressure and use controlled, slow movements to avoid pulling and squeezing the hair.
- Make sure your facial hair is a reasonable length: I’ve seen a lot of user reviews, accompanied by pictures of bruised and bloody faces, stating that a certain razor is absolutely horrible and that it will only butcher your face. But almost all of these reviews had something in common: the users tried to shave a one-and-a-half-inch beard. With an electric shavers. I cannot emphasize this enough, electric razors are NOT hair clippers and are only for working on short facial hair. So if you haven’t shaved for too long, be sure to use a beard trimmer beforehand.
- Shave more often if your shaver struggles with flat hairs. As mentioned throughout this post, some electric shavers, especially the less advanced models, can sometimes lack hairs that lie flat on the skin. The problem worsens as the length of the hairs increases, so shaving more often can result in better performance. Braun and Philips’s shavers are quite good at cutting difficult hairs, so this mainly concerns Panasonic electric shavers.
- Use a pre-shave lotion to improve the comfort and closeness of your shave. In general, electric shavers that can shave extremely close won’t be great for comfort & vice versa. To tackle this without adding too much overhead to your dry shaving routine, a high-quality pre-shave lotion is a way to go in my opinion. They are fairly cheap and take literally seconds to complete. It can also help with flat-lying hair. My current picks for pre-shave lotions are from Speick. After testing almost all the popular pre-shave brands, these proved to be the best in terms of effectiveness, quality, fragrance and even cost.
- Give your skin a few days to heal if you experience severe irritation after shaving. If you shave your skin again while you’re still fairly soft, it will only make it worse. Instead, you should wait at least a few days between shaving.
- Avoid switching between an electric razor and a razor. Some men prefer to use razors for a really close shave, but they also grab electric shavers if they’re in a rush and just need a quick dry shave. This is not ideal and should be avoided. A razor scrapes off a thin layer of skin cells, causing the body to produce scar tissue. It takes a few weeks to get rid of it and during this time you will not get the best results with an electric razor. That’s why all razor manufacturers say you should let your skin get used to the new way of shaving for a few weeks. So it’s best to just pick one method and stick to it.
- Clean your shaver after each use and lubricate the cutters regularly. While you don’t need to be extra thorough every time, you should clean your electric shavers after every use. Most razors are waterproof and can be easily rinsed with water.
- Lubrication is also vital to the performance and life of the shaver. If you use a cleaning station, no additional lubrication is required.
- Make sure the battery is sufficiently charged. With some shavers, you will experience a performance drop as soon as the battery charge drops below a certain threshold. This is usually the case with older or budget electric shavers razors. You want to use at least a 30-40% battery charge in this case, otherwise, you will likely experience some hair pulling and the closeness of the shave will suffer as well. Modern batteries are not affected by the memory effect like the old NiMh / NiCd batteries, so you can charge your shaver as often as you need.
Cleanse, Exfoliate & Moisturize
A great shave starts with healthy skin. And men’s skincare is actually very simple.
Here’s what to do:
- Clean your face daily with a mild face wash.
- Peel twice a week. Dead skin cells clog hair follicles and cause pimples, so you need to get rid of them. Since electric razors don’t exfoliate your skin, it’s best to do this to maintain healthy skin.
- Use a moisturizing balm after every shave.
Conclusion
Choosing an electric razor can be difficult when there are so many options available.
And to add insult to injury, selecting an electric shavers razor is plagued by yet another problem: poor documentation of the differences between the various models.
Often the model names make no sense, the manufacturer does not make the slightest effort to demonstrate the relevant differences between the razors in a particular line, and many review sites are filled with contradictory or useless information.
Sometimes we see product updates being rolled out, without indicating how important they are or whether the older razors are still a good option.
There are instances where the new models are nothing more than a cosmetic makeover; but there are also times when a shaver is a completely new product, making significant changes that affect its actual performance.
Most of these shaver lists don’t consider the user and their needs so I hope you found my reviews here meaningful and helpful.
Finding the right electric shaver is a personal matter. It is important to note that a review of the electric shavers is based on anecdotal findings and that at least some parts are influenced by user preference.
A particular razor may be the best option for me, but it can also perform poorly if used by someone else. And this is due to the fact that men are different and want different things from an electric razor.
Calculating these differences and use cases is critical when recommending an electric shaver, as it exponentially increases the chances of getting a suitable shaver.
So, what should you pay particular attention to when buying electric shavers?
- the coarseness of the hair
- Skin Sensitivity
- Shaving habits and frequency
- Facial hair features
- Budget (initial investment, replacement foils/blades, cleaning cartridges)
I am convinced that this “holistic” approach is the best way to choose an electric shavers that will work in your case.
Today’s modern electric razors have come a long way and you can find some amazing products right now. But like I said, a particular razor isn’t going to be ideal in every situation.
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